In hopes of improving their marks before the Pac-12 Championships, which takes place in a week, the throwers, sprinters and distance runners of the Oregon track and field team returned to Hayward Field for the Oregon Twilight on Friday.
“It’s been a long time since our last race here,” said Sam Prakel, who placed fifth in the men’s 800 meter. “It feels good to be back in front of the fans.”
Despite placing fifth, Prakel finished with a personal record of 1 minute, 50.99 seconds in an event he doesn’t normally compete in.
“I was racing a little under distance,” Prakel said. “Trying to work on my speed a little.”
Kiana Phelps kicked things off for the Ducks in the women’s discus. On her fifth throw, she took the lead from Melissa Ausman, who was competing unattached, by hitting a season-best of 165 feet, 5 inches. Madeline Middlebrooks followed them in third with a distance of 153-07.
Later, Phelps participated in the shot put, placing fourth with a distance 47 feet, 3/4 of an inch. She finished behind Maddie Rabing and Ronna Stone in second with 49-00.25 and third with 47-07.00, respectively.
Both Rabing and Middlebrooks headed over to the hammer throw to finish the meet for the women throwers. They went 1-2 after throwing 176 and 174-10, respectively.
As for the men, Cullen Prena won the hammer throw with a distance of  208-05 before heading back to the main field to finish the discus, where he placed third after throwing 168-10 on his final attempt. Ryan Hunter-Simms placed second with a distance of 186-01.
Hunter-Simms also placed second in the shot put after throwing 57-10.50 inches. Behind him was Austin White and T.J. Brassil with distances of 52-05.25 and 52-01.25, respectively.
Cody Danielson won the men’s javelin, winning by almost ten feet. After he threw 238-10 on his fifth attempt, Danielson decided to pass on his final attempt as he was significantly in the lead.
Oregon’s distance runners were also in action. Both the men and women’s 1,500-meter were filled with Ducks. In the men’s event, Mick Stanovsek finished as the runner-up, crossing the line in 3:45.09. After leading for most of the women’s race, Katie Rainsberger finished in third after being outkicked by two other runners. She ran a time of 4 minutes, 11.53 seconds. Just behind her was Jessica Hull in 4:13.48.
It was the opposite for Perrin Xthona in the women’s 3,000. After trailing for much of the race, Xthona took the lead with only two laps to go. She ended up winning the race by more than 20 seconds in 10 minutes, 18.73 seconds.
A couple jumpers also represented Oregon at the meet. Pole vaulter Cole Walsh won after clearing 17 feet, 2.75 inches. In only his second outdoor meet, Ben Milligan was the runner-up in the high jump with a final height of 6 feet, 6.75 inches.
Follow Hannah Bonnie on Twitter @hbonnie03